Terriers Capture Three America East Year-End Awards
October 29, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 29, 2008
Cambridge, Mass. - The Boston University women's soccer team, the 2008 America East regular-season champion, has been honored with three major post-season awards, which were determined in a vote by the league's head coaches and released by the conference today. Senior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge has been named Midfielder of the Year, while junior Casey Brown repeats as the Defender of the Year. Head coach Nancy Feldman and her staff were selected as the Coaching Staff of the Year. Additionally, BU placed 10 student-athletes on all-conference teams - more than any other team in the conference.
Schumacher-Hodge, also the 2006 Midfielder of the Year, is tied for the team lead with 10 points on four goals and a pair of assists. She has played a key role in several of the Terriers' 2008 highlights, including her corner kick that led to Sunday's thrilling golden goal at Hartford. A three-time first-team all-conference honoree, Schumacher-Hodge was selected as one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior Class Award and most recently earned the inaugural America East Fan's Choice Player of the Year.
Brown, a native of Natick, Mass., earned her second straight Defender of the Year award. She scored a timely first goal of the season on Sunday when the Terriers and Hawks battled into double overtime, heading home the game-winner off a corner kick. Throughout the season, Brown has anchored a backline that has allowed just 11 goals in 2008 and is one clean sheet away from tying a program mark for shutouts in a season (12).
Feldman and assistants Liz Driscoll and Jessica Clinton have earned the America East Coaching Staff of the Year award. She had previously received the distinction on five occasions (1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), the most by any league coach. The Terriers have compiled 13 wins in 2008, becoming the first team to complete the conference slate unbeaten and untied since 2000.
Junior Mara Osher and sophomore Lina Cords join Schumacher-Hodge and Brown on the America East All-Conference First Team. Osher is the team's assist leader with four handouts and has recorded three multi-point games - Vermont (Oct. 5), Binghamton (Oct. 9), Stony Brook (Oct. 19). Cords, a central defender, has been the Terriers' specialist on set plays over the past two seasons, while also staunchly defending the squad's backline, which has allowed just five goals since she came to BU.
Earning second-team honors is senior Elizabeth Speck, juniors Farrell McClernon and Emily Pallotta, as well as sophomores Shauna Kelleher and Janie Reilly. In addition, freshman Jessica Luscinski made the all-rookie team for her efforts in her first season as a Terrier.
BU will host its America East Women's Soccer Championship semifinal game on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. against the winner of the Hartford-Maine game on Thursday.
